Blaster Master Zero 3

Blaster Master Zero 3 concludes the trilogy of modern tributes to the classic 1988 Blaster Master and pushes the series toward the most open and varied world it has ever offered. The hero Jason and the tank SOPHIA III this time face an alien parasite called G-SOPHIA, capable of controlling both machines and people, which spreads across several planets and space stations. The game responds to this with a new mechanic allowing the player to take control of the bodies of defeated enemies and use their special abilities to progress further, whether that means flying drones or hulking robots.

Like the previous game, this one also launched directly for Nintendo Switch and fully builds on the experience of the second game – the map is larger and more interconnected, transitions between on-foot action, tank sections, and new spaceship sequences are smoother and less interrupted by loading, and the level design includes numerous optional detours, hidden upgrades, and side bosses for players who want to explore every corner of the map. The added ability to take control of defeated enemies changes the approach to both combat and solving environmental puzzles in a way the first two games didn't offer, and combined with the higher difficulty of optional challenges and boss fights, it makes the third entry the most demanding and extensive chapter of the entire modern trilogy. The story follows on from the second game and concludes the narrative that began on 3DS, including the fates of side characters introduced in previous entries and their relationships with one another.

Why play it: For players who finished the previous two games and want to see how studio Inti Creates brought the formula to its biggest and most varied form in the entire series.